Given By Rev. Madison Shockley September 10, 2017
Inspired by today’s reading from Exodus 12: 1, 3, 7-8, 11-14 and current events, we speak on the issue of immigration. The story begins with Joseph, sold into slavery and transported to Egypt, rising to become prime minister. Famine brings his brothers into Egypt to beg for help. After hundreds of years, the Israelites prospered and became part of the culture of Egypt. Things took a turn when a new pharaoh came to power. The previous policies were not going to be continued. The new pharaoh saw the Hebrews as a threat to the Egyptian way of life. The Hebrews were enslaved. God sees the suffering and asks Moses to convince the pharaoh to “let my people go.” God helps the oppressed. Looking at this story from the perspective of the Egyptians, you cannot help but feel for the ordinary Egyptian citizens. They suffer plagues and the death of the first born because of the pharaoh’s refusal to free the Hebrews. Today, we ask ourselves, who are we in this story? As Americans, we seem to identify with the Egyptians. We are the powerful who invited immigrants into our land. Today, we struggle with what to do with their children. They were brought here by their parents. They know of no other life. The current administration is reversing the previous policies that allowed these children to go to school, work, and serve in the military. As Christians, we must decide who we want to be. The Christian Gospel has been infected by the American dream. We have lost sight of which is which. Once people realize the difference, they must make a choice. Sometimes, they choose the American dream over the gospel. It is our job to remind them of God’s purpose.